Diocesan director participates in Rome conference

Andres Arango, director of Evangelization, Young Adult and Campus Ministries for the Diocese of Camden, participated in a colloquium on Baptism in the Spirit-Outpouring of the Spirit, in Rome from March 17 to 20.

Organized by the Doctrinal Commission of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS) under the patronage of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the colloquium was held to discuss the preparation of a text focusing on the Baptism in the Spirit, scheduled to be published by the ICCRS in the future.

In 2009, Arango wrote a book on the Baptism in the Spirit, “Con Poder la Experiencia de Pentecostés” (“With Power, the Experience of Pentecost”). Due to his writing and his role at a national and international levels with evangelization and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Arango was invited to take park in the colloquium, along with 150international theologians and pastoral leaders from around the world.

Analyzing several topics about the Baptism in the Spirit, the colloquium discussed Characteristics and Fruits; Awakening to the Mission of the Laity; Evangelization; Biblical and Patristic Foundations; Pastoral Issues; and Theological Reflection.

Calling the meeting in Rome “a great opportunity to dialogue with several pastoral leaders about the work of the Holy Spirit around the world,” Arango noted the importance of reflecting on the Baptism in the Spirit, which “helps us to be aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives (and) empowers us to be involved in…sharing the love and power of God in every situation of our lives.”